Alberta physicians call for proof of immunity to access indoor public spaces
A group of 65 Alberta infectious disease physicians penned an open letter calling on the province to immediately require proof of vaccination to access indoor public places on Monday.
The call came as COVID ICU admissions reached an all time high of 198 and AHS entered its second week of postponing scheduled surgeries, affecting hundreds of patients.
Some of the cancellations have included cancer and cardiac procedures.
CTV News has requested the total number of cancelled surgeries in the province since they were first announced last week. AHS said on Monday it does not have a number available.
“I think that whenever you start seeing this level of postponement of surgeries, and the redeployments that we're seeing we know that the situation is very, very serious," said Dr. Leyla Asadi, an infectious disease physician and one of the signatories. "[It means] the health care system is in crisis, and that urgent action is necessary.”
She said there were no other measures that show signs of curbing the surge in COVID cases and the steep rise in hospital admissions.
As of Monday evening, 803 people were in hospital with COVID, with nearly 80 per cent not fully vaccinated. Among people in ICU, that number rises to between 90 and 95 per cent depending on the day.
"What we need is real leadership. I think businesses are asking for it, healthcare workers are asking for it," said Asadi. "The people of Alberta are asking for it. And so we believe urgent action is necessary.”
COSTS
According to Canadian Institute for Health Information, the average cost of treating a COVID ICU admission in Alberta is $74,568. The average cost for a COVID hospitalization is $19,101.
Based on Monday's totals, the cost of treating the existing cases exceeds $26.3 million.
One Alberta physician who teaches health care management at Haskayne School of Business said while people should have a right to exercise their freedom of choice around vaccinations, they should be made to take responsibility for their decision.
"The rest of the taxpayers shouldn't pay for the cost of the freedom of a very small number of people," said Dr. Mali Mansouri.
She added that the current cancellations carry a cost to patients, the health care system, and the education of future medical workers.
She said it may be the right decision given where the province is at, but it is borrowing from the future.
"I expect Premier Jason Kenney and the decision makers in Alberta Health Services to have [. . .] more transparent communication with the public with regard to both direct and indirect costs of COVID," said Mansouri. "Also the cost which people who are not vaccinated creates for society as a whole."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.